Neutral Spine Support Garment

ABSTRACT

A fashion garment is constructed for use as comfortable outerwear and promotion of neutral-spine posture. The garment includes an outer shell comprising a soft, stretchable material shaped to fit snuggly around a wearer&#39;s torso and having a bust region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer&#39;s chest; a lower front region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer&#39;s abdomen; an upper region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer&#39;s shoulders; and a lower back region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer&#39;s lower back. The garment also includes at least two elastic bands, each having two ends, where one end connects to the upper region of the outer shell on one side of the wearer&#39;s body and the other end connects to the lower region of the outer shell on the other side of the wearer&#39;s body, such that the elastic bands criss-cross one another and apply rearward force to the wearer&#39;s shoulders, pulling the shoulders back and forcing the torso toward a neutral-spine posture.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application 62/501,668, filed on May 4, 2017, and titled “Neutral Spine Support Garment.”

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This application relates to a neutral spine support system incorporated into a garment that creates awareness of good posture and straightens the spine to a neutral-spine position.

BACKGROUND

The importance of good posture is well known among health professionals. Good posture, or neutral spine, is the natural curve present in a healthy spine. The natural curve that is present in a healthy person includes a slight forward curve in the lumbar (lower back) region, and a slight backward curve in the thoracic (upper back) region, together forming a slight “S” shape when viewed from the side. Theoretically, the slight S-shape of the spine that is characteristic of good posture should be maintained during both static and dynamic activities. When the back is in this position, the ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles are aligned. This alignment properly distributes body weight and the stresses it causes along the length of the spine.

For a person with good posture, gravitational forces are more evenly distributed through the bones, ligaments, and muscles of the body. Maintaining good posture is equally important during passive (static) activities such as sitting and standing, as well as during dynamic activities such as walking, running, and lifting. Maintaining an awareness of proper posture during static and dynamic activities helps prevent over-stressing of muscles and ligaments. In addition, maintaining an awareness of proper posture should train certain muscles through muscle memory such that proper posture eventually becomes a habit.

Some medical devices have been developed to avoid these problems. Hard immobile back braces are common for those with spine misalignment and are not comfortable and interfere with mobility. Other devices provide support to only a section of the spine, can be bulky, and often restrict mobility. Still others mechanically manipulate the body into correct posture in ways that can be uncomfortable to the wearer. While these prior art devices provide a means to force an individual to exhibit proper posture, none provides support and proper tensioning in a natural and comfortable manner to help the wearer maintain balance and posture while performing routine daily activities and functions. Moreover, most prior art devices do not allow proper range of motion due to the rigidity and awkwardness of the devices and tend to be bulky and unattractive to the eye.

SUMMARY

Described here is a fashion garment constructed for use as comfortable outerwear and promotion of neutral-spine posture. The garment includes an outer shell comprising a soft, stretchable material shaped to fit snuggly around a wearer's torso and having a bust region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer's chest; a lower front region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer's abdomen; an upper region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer's shoulders; and a lower back region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer's lower back. The garment also includes at least two elastic bands, each having two ends, where one end connects to the upper region of the outer shell on one side of the wearer's body and the other end connects to the lower region of the outer shell on the other side of the wearer's body, such that the elastic bands criss-cross one another and apply rearward force to the wearer's shoulders, pulling the shoulders back and forcing the torso toward a neutral-spine posture.

The garment also often includes an inner lining attached along an inner surface of the outer shell, where the inner lining comprises a soft, elastic material and is positioned to apply tension against the wearer's skin. In many embodiments some of the inner lining is positioned at the upper region of the outer shell to intensify the force applied by the elastic bands and some is positioned at the lower region of the outer shell, around the wearer's waist, to provide support for the wearer's hips. For some embodiments, the soft, stretchable material of the outer shell comprises approximately 72% nylon and approximately 28% spandex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective back view of a neutral spine support garment that takes the form of a short-sleeved, fashionable, and form-fitting athletic shirt or top;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective frontal view of the neutral spine support garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectioned back and frontal view (or “inside-out views”) of the neutral spine support garment of FIG. 1, with a mesh inner lining that is visible in the figure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective back view of a neutral spine support garment that takes the form of a long-sleeved, fashionable, and form-fitting athletic top;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective frontal view of the neutral spine support garment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a sectioned back and frontal view (“inside-out views”) of the neutral spine support garment of FIG. 4, with a mesh inner lining that is visible in the figure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective side view of a neutral spine support garment supporting a wearer's upper body in a neutral spine position; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a close up back view of a neutral spine support garment.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-8 depict multiple embodiments of a neutral-spine support garment 100 designed to be a fashionable, form-fitting, and comfortable piece of everyday outerwear. As shown here, the garment 100 takes the form of an athletic shirt or top, with each embodiment having unique appearance and fashion sensibility but all embodiments having similar spine-supporting constructions. In each embodiment, the neutral-spine support garment 100 is configured to support the upper body as well as the spine (lumbar, thoracic, and cervical) through use of high-tension elastic bands 106 a-b that help support a neutral spine and proper posture by consistently placing tension at keys parts of the wearer's torso and limbs, as described below, while the wearer performs routine daily activities. The selection of materials from which the garment 100 is made, in conjunction with the placement of the materials and overall design of the garment, serves to promote correct posture and provide neutral-spine support to the spine, back, chest, shoulder, neck, head, and surrounding muscular structure of the wearer. The garments shown here also promote a heads-up, chin-up, chest-up-and-out, shoulders-back-and-down, and neck-up healthy posture that improves the wearer's physiological health and comfort by decreasing body stiffness and pain caused by incorrect posture. In the embodiments shown here, some of the primary support elements of the garment 100 (such as the elastic bands 106 a-b) are visible when the garment is worn, but these elements are integrated into the design of the garment in such a way that the garment is aesthetically pleasing, of high fashion quality, and comfortable so that the wearer is pleased to wear the garment in public.

A wide variety of spine-support wear has been previously developed to provide therapeutic effect to the wearer by improving posture and easing related pain. However, this traditional support wear is not well-suited for use in casual recreational and social settings or as everyday comfort and fashion wear. Because many of these systems use rigid components and/or external strapping, aesthetics typically dictate that they be worn under more casual external garments, which creates a bulky look and adds additional weight for the wearer's body to bear. The fashionable and comfortable garments described here provide many of the same benefits as the prior spine-support systems without the bulkiness or unsightliness of rigid components and external strapping. As a result, the garments described here are particularly suited for the casual-wear market, as they are attractive and comfortable while also providing the desired therapeutic neutral-spine-support benefits.

In preferred embodiments, the neutral-spine support garment 100 is fabricated from a bodice material that is thin (that is, having thickness/weight that is typical of casual and athletic wear) and comfortable against the wearer's skin, having an elastic quality that allows the garment to stretch around, rest comfortably against, and move comfortably with the wearer's body. Suitable materials include blends of cotton, lycra spandex, polyester, nylon, elastic, or similarly light and stretchy materials that give the garment a soft, smooth finish when worn. Materials such as these create a desirable form-fitting garment that applies gentle pressure to the surface of the wearer's skin in order to enhance neuromuscular stimulation. In certain embodiments, the garment 100 includes moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating materials which are known in the art. The breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities of these materials improve the wearer's comfort level during both routine and higher-energy daily activities.

FIGS. 1-3 collectively show one embodiment of a neutral-spine support garment 100 taking the form of a short-sleeved athletic top designed to be worn around the wearer's torso and waist. While the garment 100 shown here is designed as a “pull-over” style top, other embodiments of the garment will include a fully or partially open front or back portion that is closeable by means of a variety of known garment-closure systems, such as zippers, buttons, snaps, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a back view of the spine support garment 100 showing its resilient outer shell 102, which forms a protective outer surface while also creating tension on the core muscles of the body. In certain embodiments the support garment 100 also includes a thin, elastic inner lining 104 in some locations (e.g., underneath the outer shell 102 as well as in places where the wearer's skin might otherwise be exposed) to provide additional support for and create more tension on the core muscles in those regions. A soft mesh-like lining is particularly suitable both for comfort against the wearer's and for attractiveness and fashionability of the overall garment design. Ideally, the inner lining 104 rests coplanar to the resilient outer shell 102 at the regions where the resilient outer shell 102 covers the core muscles of the upper torso.

The support garment 100 also includes a pair of high-tension elastic bands 106 a-b, each connected to the outer shell 102 near the wearer's shoulder on one side of the torso and near the wearer's latissimus dorsi (“lat”) muscle on the other side of the torso, such that the elastic bands 106 a-b criss-cross each other along the upper back, providing tension that pulls the shoulders backward into a substantially neutral-spine position. Thus, by continously creating tension on the core muscles and pulling the wearer's shoulders back, the garment urges the spine toward the neutral position, thereby promoting good posture through constant tension and pulling forces, which in turn raise the wearer's general awareness of good posture.

The sleeves 118 a-b of the garment, while shown as short sleeves here, will vary in length from design to design to include sleeveless, short sleeves, three-quarter sleeves, long sleeves, and the like. The sleeves 118 a-b connect to the outer shell 102 of the support garment 100 at the wearer's shoulders. In some embodiments, the sleeves 118 a-b take the form of “raglan” sleeves, where the material forming the sleeves 118 a-b begins at the neck line instead of the shoulders. Of course, a wide variety of other designs for sleeve formation and attachment may be used as well, as desired by the garment designer.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the garment 100 in this embodiment has a “sectioned” design that provides multiple sections of material constructed specifically to support corresponding regions of the wearer's body. A lower front region 114 supports the wearer's abdominal wall, and a waist region 116 encircles the wearer's waist and hips to provide additional support for the hips. Two upper regions 108 extending over the wearer's shoulders, between the shoulder joints and neck, and a bust region 112 across the wearer's chest create tension along the core muscles at the upper extremities of the body. By supporting these core muscles in this manner, the garment 100 holds the spine more firmly in place in the neutral-spine position.

FIG. 3 shows “inside-out” views of the support garment 100, in which the inner lining 104 is more readily visible. In the embodiment shown here, the inner lining 104 (comprising a soft, thin, elastic mesh-like material in this example) provides additional support for the spine in the neutral position by covering the front and back upper regions around the wearer's shoulders and the region between the wearer's shoulder blades, beside the elastic bands 106 a-b. The inner lining 104 also provides support for the wearer's hips around the waist region. The inner lining 104 can be placed at a variety of other locations as well, such as along the lower back region 110, as desired by the garment designer to provide additional support elsewhere on the body.

In certain embodiments, some regions of the garment 100 include two fabric layers, or panels (an inner panel and an outer panel) to double-up the thickness of the fabric to provide additional tension and support. One region where such doubling of the fabric layers is of benefit is the lower back region 100, which typically requires greater support and is less sensitive to heavier weights of fabric on the skin. The inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer can be any known fabric material suitable for use in a comfortable, fashionable support garment such as those described here. Preferably, the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer are constructed of the same type of material, but they can be made from different materials as well. Materials that are particularly suited for both the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer are those comprising nylon and spandex. Material with a composition of approximately 72% nylon and approximately 28% spandex works particularly well. Most importantly, though, the garment in preferred embodiments is constructed of soft, stretchable, elastic, breathable materials capable of applying significant compression of the wearer's skin upon being stretched tightly over the wearer's torso, thereby maintaining a firm grip around the patient's waist area and providing secure anchoring for the rearward forces applied by the pair of elastic bands 106 a-b.

FIGS. 4-6 collectively show front and back views of an embodiment of the support garment 100 having long sleeves. Apart from the alternative appearance and body-temperature characteristics, this extended-sleeve garment functions in substantially the same manner as the short-sleeved garment described above. For example, in either sleeve arrangement the inner lining 104 preferably includes a mix of nylon and spandex material and is positioned coplanar against the resilient outer shell 102 in areas that cover the core muscles. In FIG. 4 the inner lining 104 is generally not visible, as it is covered by the resilient outer shell 102, but in certain embodiments some regions of the resilient outer shell 102 (such as the upper back region 108) are designed to allow the inner lining 104 to show through. Garments with the inner lining 104 tend to create greater tension on the core muscles than those with just the resilient outer shell 102.

FIGS. 5-6 show the garment 100 with the inner lining 104 traversing the lower and upper back, the shoulders, the abdomen, and the hips. The inner lining 104 at the upper regions 108 and the bust region 112 create tension on the core muscles at the upper extremities of the upper body, such as the upper back and upper abdominal wall. Similarly, the inner lining 104 at the lower back region 110 and lower front region 114 create tension on the core muscles at the lower extremities, such as the lower back, lower abdominal wall, and hips.

FIGS. 7-8 show side and back views of yet another embodiment of the neutral-spine support garment—a sleeveless garment. FIG. 7 depicts in side view the appearance of the support garment 100 on the torso when the wearer's posture is optimized, such that the resilient outer shell 102, inner lining 104, and elastic bands 106 a-b create an aligned, non-slouching posture from the neutral-spine disposition. FIG. 8 provides a zoomed, back view of the garment, where the elastic bands 106 a-b criss-cross each other at the upper back, connecting the upper back region to the lower back region of the resilient outer shell 102. The strong, elastic nature of the bands 106 a-b reinforces the inner lining 104 at the upper back, providing greater tension across the upper back to pull the shoulders backward toward a neutral-spine position. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fashion garment constructed for use as comfortable outerwear and promotion of neutral-spine posture, the garment comprising: an outer shell comprising a soft, stretchable material shaped to fit snuggly around a wearer's torso and having: a bust region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer's chest; a lower front region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer's abdomen; an upper region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer's shoulders; and a lower back region positioned to cover and place tension across the wearer's lower back; and at least two elastic bands, each having two ends, where one end connects to the upper region of the outer shell on one side of the wearer's body and the other end connects to the lower region of the outer shell on the other side of the wearer's body, such that the elastic bands criss-cross one another and apply rearward force to the wearer's shoulders, pulling the shoulders back and forcing the torso toward a neutral-spine posture.
 2. The fashion garment of claim 1, further comprising an inner lining attached along an inner surface of the outer shell, where the inner lining comprises a soft, elastic material and is positioned to apply tension against the wearer's skin.
 3. The fashion garment of claim 2, where at least a portion of the inner lining is positioned at the upper region of the outer shell to intensify the force applied by the elastic bands.
 4. The fashion garment of claim 3, where at least a portion of the inner lining is positioned at the lower region of the outer shell, around the wearer's waist, to provide support for the wearer's hips.
 5. The fashion garment of claim 1, where the soft, stretchable material of the outer shell comprises approximately 72% nylon and approximately 28% spandex. 